The N.C. Department of Transportation is using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to improve travel on U.S. 258 in Northampton County and help the pavement last longer.

Transportation Secretary Gene Conti has awarded a $968,845 contract to Barnhill Contracting Co. of Tarboro to resurface a 7.5-mi. (12 km) section of U.S. 258 from the Roanoke River to N.C. 305. Work is scheduled to begin as early as June 1, with final completion set for Nov. 1.

“Thanks to federal recovery funding, NCDOT no longer has to delay this important project,” Conti said. “By making these much-needed improvements now, we’re enhancing our state road system and creating new jobs in the construction industry, which has been seriously impacted by the downturn in the economy.”

According to the Federal Highway Administration, every $1 million spent on transportation creates 30 jobs, and construction industry analysis shows every dollar invested in transportation trickles down into the economy six times.

NCDOT selected this project to benefit from ARRA funds for several reasons:

• U.S. 258 is a primary north-south route, which runs through Northampton County to the Virginia border. Approximately 2,300 vehicles per day use the two-lane highway to reach their destinations; and

• The department recognized the strong need to resurface U.S. 258, but NCDOT’s traditional revenue sources could not provide the money for the project.

“Without treatment, the road would deteriorate and require much more extensive and costly repairs,” said Jerry Jennings, the division engineer overseeing the project. “Using federal funding allows us to maintain safe driving conditions and extend the life of the highway.”

For more information, visit www.ncdot.gov.

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